Though Meiko may have been born in Georgia, she found a career in California. Now, a tour promoting her upcoming album gives her a rare chance to return home.

“I’m from Roberta, Ga.,” Meiko said. “I’ve never played Athens before, which is weird because I’m from so close.”

Since breaking out into the music scene as a talented singer-songwriter in 2007 with her self-titled, self-released debut, Meiko has recorded another album, “The Bright Side.” Her previous two albums were largely acoustic, but she used her upcoming release, titled “Dear You,” as an opportunity to experiment with some additional influences.